In another twist to what has been an unusual
'campaign,' there will be some competition for
the mayor's position in Platte City after all.

Two weeks after Gary Brown announced he was dropping
out of a race against incumbent Dave Brooks, a
former alderman has stepped forward to announce
she will run as a write-in candidate for the mayor's
seat at the Tuesday, April 6 election.

Pat Wolf, 52, on Tuesday filed her intention
to run as a write-in with the Platte County Board
of Elections. Her name will not appear on the
ballot, meaning her supporters will have to pencil
in her name.

In an odd situation, Brown's name will still
be on the ballot even though he has announced
he is no longer seeking the post. Brown pulled
out of the race too late for his name to be removed
from the ballot, according to officials with the
board of elections.

Wolf was elected as an alderman in 1998 and served
until 2000. In her time on the board she served
on the personnel and public works committees.
She is running for mayor because she is "concerned
with the representation of the city with the current
mayor," she said this week.

"I believe I can aid the board by helping
them stay focused on issues once the facts have
been weighed and effectively presented,"
she said.

"With my common sense approach, I can impress
on board members that decisions should be made
at the meeting table and not at a table in a restaurant.

Wolf is the single parent of a 13-year-old son
who attends Platte County R-3 Schools. She bought
a home in Platte City in 1994.

If elected, open government will be a focus of
her administration, she said.

"The word 'open' gets thrown around a lot,
but the word 'open' should refer to more than
the doors at city hall or the mayor's office,"
she remarked.

"There should be nothing to hidethis
earns the respect of the community," Wolf
added.

The former alderman said she will bring commitment
and accountability to the job.

"I'm committed to being a good representative
of the city, to staying within my own boundaries
and will not micro-manage city hall. I'll hold
myself and everybody else accountable for our
actions," she said.

Wolf said she believes it's the position that's
important, not the person filling it.
"I'll keep the people in mind and won't be
self-absorbed," she said.

She added she will be a proponent of what she
calls "citywide pride.

"We should be proud of the whole city, not
just parts of it or certain people in it.

Brooks was elected mayor in 2002, defeating then-incumbent
Frank Offutt. It was Brooks' third run for mayor.
He had run unsuccessfully in 1996 against Pearl
Brown and had been defeated by Offutt in 1998.
In 2000, Brooks was elected alderman in Ward 1,
serving one term before winning the mayor's race
in 2002.

Brown, currently a Ward 3 alderman whose term
expires in April, dropped out of the mayor's race
a little more than two weeks ago, citing the need
to "concentrate on family stuff and personal
things.

He had filed for the job in December, and harshly
criticized Brooks in media interviews, alleging
there is "a coalition" in place at city
hall.